Lalley: Let's get down to some serious debate about local politics

Jul. 16, 2013

ONLINE

At least that’s what I’m thinking in July 2013, more than 15 months out from the next major Election Day, when nothing less than control of the free world once again will be in play.

With all the speculation and occasional revelation of the past several months regarding who will be on the ballot for U.S. Senate come primary season next June and then the big show in November, the prospect of what’s coming next can be a little overwhelming.

We’ve talked about every development as it happened during the “100 Eyes on South Dakota Politics” program every Tuesday afternoon.

And we’ve rehashed the meaning of each rumor and announcement.

And then we talked about it some more.

Because that’s what the viewers want to talk about.

This week, however, we finally had something new to talk about — the race for mayor of Sioux Falls. That’s because City Councilor Greg Jamison said he intends to run for the mayor’s office. Now, to be fair, this wasn’t the best-kept secret in the city, and had been discussed in quiet corners for some time.

It was such a poorly kept secret that we’d openly talked about it on the “100 Eyes” show.

Jamison’s public acknowledgment that he will challenge incumbent Mike Huether was a welcome change.

Because, as I said, local politics is much more fun these days.

Many of you good people will suggest that’s a silly contention. What’s more important after all, deciding who will administer the public works budget of a mid-sized and prosperous Midwestern city, or take one of 100 seats in the world’s greatest debating society?

It’s a valid point.

Still, Senate campaigns have become so intensely ugly, and so often driven by tactical symbolism over actual questions of public policy, that talking about the public works budget seems like the most pressing questions of our time.

Even though I know it isn’t.

“Sometimes when you start talking about politics, I get bored,” one of our viewers wrote in the live chat that accompanies every episode of “100 Eyes.”

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That’s going to happen when you’re talking about sewer emergencies and storm cleanup and the merits of asphalt overlay of streets versus a full concrete reconstruction.

At least there’s some hope of resolving the timeless street debate.

When it comes to who is going to serve in Congress, it all seems a bit futile. Mike Rounds v. Larry Rhoden v. Annette Bosworth v. A Couple Other Guys Who Say They Might Also Run, all vying for the right to run against Rick Wieland.

I know it’s important. And when we finally get down to the meat of it, I know it’s going to be engaging and informative.

At least it will be on “100 Eyes.” I can’t speak to the rest of the world.

The primaries in that race still are almost 11 months away, however.

Let’s all take a break from the Super Pacs and the spokespeople and the television strategies and settle in for a little municipal smack down.